History of Henry VIII

Lord Chamberlain. Is't possible the spells of France should juggle
570Men into such strange mysteries?

Lord Sands. New customs,
Though they be never so ridiculous,
Nay, let 'em be unmanly, yet are follow'd.

Lord Chamberlain. As far as I see, all the good our English
575Have got by the late voyage is but merely
A fit or two o' the face; but they are shrewd ones;
For when they hold 'em, you would swear directly
Their very noses had been counsellors
To Pepin or Clotharius, they keep state so.
580

Lord Sands. They have all new legs, and lame ones: one would take it,
That never saw 'em pace before, the spavin
Or springhalt reign'd among 'em.

Sir Thomas Lovell. The reformation of our travell'd gallants,
That fill the court with quarrels, talk, and tailors.
595

Lord Chamberlain. I'm glad 'tis there: now I would pray our monsieurs
To think an English courtier may be wise,
And never see the Louvre.

Sir Thomas Lovell. They must either,
For so run the conditions, leave those remnants
600Of fool and feather that they got in France,
With all their honourable point of ignorance
Pertaining thereunto, as fights and fireworks,
Abusing better men than they can be,
Out of a foreign wisdom, renouncing clean
605The faith they have in tennis, and tall stockings,
Short blister'd breeches, and those types of travel,
And understand again like honest men;
Or pack to their old playfellows: there, I take it,
They may, 'cum privilegio,' wear away
610The lag end of their lewdness and be laugh'd at.

Lord Sands. 'Tis time to give 'em physic, their diseases
Are grown so catching.

Sir Thomas Lovell. Ay, marry,
There will be woe indeed, lords: the sly whoresons
Have got a speeding trick to lay down ladies;
A French song and a fiddle has no fellow.

Lord Sands. The devil fiddle 'em! I am glad they are going,
620For, sure, there's no converting of 'em: now
An honest country lord, as I am, beaten
A long time out of play, may bring his plainsong
And have an hour of hearing; and, by'r lady,
Held current music too.
625

Lord Chamberlain. O, 'tis true:
This night he makes a supper, and a great one,
635To many lords and ladies; there will be
The beauty of this kingdom, I'll assure you.

Sir Thomas Lovell. That churchman bears a bounteous mind indeed,
A hand as fruitful as the land that feeds us;
His dews fall every where.
640

Lord Chamberlain. No doubt he's noble;
He had a black mouth that said other of him.

Lord Sands. He may, my lord; has wherewithal: in him
Sparing would show a worse sin than ill doctrine:
Men of his way should be most liberal;
645They are set here for examples.

Lord Chamberlain. True, they are so:
But few now give so great ones. My barge stays;
Your lordship shall along. Come, good Sir Thomas,
We shall be late else; which I would not be,
650For I was spoke to, with Sir Henry Guildford
This night to be comptrollers.